Knife Sharpening Service
For safety and to make cooking easier, it is very important to maintain sharp knives. From time to time we recommend you have your knives sharpened professionally. Phil is considered the best sharpener in Auckland and he certainly knows his knives! For only $15.00 per knife he will restore your knives to their original quality, if not better. Simply drop your knives in and, under normal circumstances, they will be restored in less than a week.
Cast Iron Care and Use
Before use: Rinse with hot water (do not use soap), and dry thoroughly.
Before cooking: Apply vegetable oil to the cooking surface of your pan and pre-heat the pan slowly (always start on low heat, increasing the temperature slowly).
Once the cookware is properly pre-heated, you are ready to cook.
TIP: Avoid cooking very cold food in the pan, as this can promote sticking. Allow food to sit out of the refrigerator for a few minutes so the “chill” before cooking.
REMEMBER: Handles will become very hot in the oven, and on the stovetop. Always use an oven mitt to prevent burns when removing pans from oven or stovetop.
Cleaning your Cast Iron: After cooking, clean utensil with a stiff nylon brush and hot water. Using soap is not recommended, and harsh detergents should never be used. (Avoid putting a hot utensil into cold water. Thermal shock can occur causing the metal to warp or crack).
TIP: If you are having trouble removing stuck-on food, boil some water in your pan for a few minutes to loosen residue, making it easier to remove.
Towel dry immediately and apply a light coating of oil to the utensil while it is still warm.
TIP: Do not let your cast iron air dry, as this can promote rust.
Store in a cool, dry place. If you have a cover, or lid, for your utensil, place a folded paper towel in between lid and utensil allowing air to circulate. This prevents moisture from collecting inside the utensil, which can cause rust.
TIP: The oven is a great place to store your cast iron; just remember to remove it before turning on the oven.
NEVER wash in dishwasher.
If for some reason your utensil develops a metallic smell or taste, or perhaps rust spots (maybe a well-meaning relative washed your utensil in the dishwasher or with soap thinking they were being helpful), never fear. Simply scour off the rust using a very fine grade of sandpaper or steel wool and re-season.
IMPORTANT PRODUCT NOTE: If you have a long, rectangular grill/ griddle, make sure to place it over two burners, allowing the griddle to heat evenly and avoid a stress break or warping. It is also good to preheat the griddle in the oven before placing over burners on top of stove.
Re-Seasoning your Cast Iron
While maintaining the seasoning (as in Step 5 above) should keep your Cast Iron in good condition, at some point you may need to repeat the seasoning process. If food sticks to the surface, or you notice a dull, grey colour, repeat the seasoning process:
Wash the cookware with hot, soapy water and a stiff brush. (It is okay to use soap this time because you are preparing to re-season the cookware).
Rinse and dry completely.
Apply a thin, even coating of MELTED solid vegetable shortening (or cooking oil of your choice) to the cookware (inside and out).
Place aluminium foil on the bottom rack of the oven to catch any dripping.
Set oven temperature to 350 – 400 degrees F.
Place cookware upside down on the top rack of the oven.
Bake the cookware for at least one hour. After the hour, turn the oven off and let the cookware cool in the oven.
Store the cookware uncovered, in a dry place when cooled.
Non-Stick Cookware Care and Use
Before use: Wash your product in warm soapy water.
During use: When frying with fat: Heat your product to cooking temperature using medium heat then add the fat;
When frying without fat: Heat your product to cooking temperature using medium heat then start to fry.
After use: Wash the product with warm soapy water. It is easiest to clean this product while it is still warm. The product must always be completely clean before it is put away.
Do not use oil from aerosol sprays, as this can impair your product's non-stick coating.
Do not overheat the product as the aluminium is superior in retaining heat and high heat is unnecessary. High heat will reduce the non-stick performance. Overheating will not be covered under warranty. You should not use your non-stick product to store food.
Burn marks due to overheating or charring of fatty substances can be removed by 3/4 filling the product with water, bring to a slow boil, using medium heat, add a dessert spoon of dishwashing liquid, simmer for 15 minutes, rinse and scrub. You can then clean it in the normal way.
Some signs of wear and tear may become visible on the coating. This is normal and does not affect its non-stick qualities.
Misuse such as knife cuts and use of electrical equipments is NOT covered under warranty.
Dishwasher safe, but not recommended.
Can withstand oven heat up to 260°C (500°F).
